The Marine Museum at Fall River is a cultural gem and contains a wealth of Fall River Maritime History especially Steam Ship and Titanic memorabilia. Discover the art, books, models and many treasures the Marine Museum holds. This is a must see
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The Marine Museum at Fall River is a cultural gem and contains a wealth of Fall River Maritime History especially Steam Ship and Titanic memorabilia. Discover the art, books, models and many treasures the Marine Museum holds. This is a must see resource for landlubbers and mariners alike.

Carol Gafford is a public librarian, family historian, amateur archivist and book savior. She is currently the youth services/outreach librarian at the Swansea Public Library and volunteers for several museum and historical societies including the Marine Museum at Fall River, the Swansea Historical Society and the Bristol Historical and Preservation society. She is the editor of Past Times, the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists and is always looking for a new project to take on.

I am 17 years old and just sat for my SAT’s. My family couldn’t afford the $1,000 review class that everyone else seemed to take. I am 17 and the only one I know in my school who isn’t driving; my family couldn’t afford the $1,000 drivers ed class everyone else has taken. I can't get a real job because I don't have a car and I live too far to walk anywhere. I babysit and such when I can for neighbors, but it seems I will never catch up. I will go to college and will be the first in my family to have ever done so but there are only a few open to me given transportation and finances.

I love my family but it just seems so unfair! Will this be my whole life?

Justine

Dear Justine,

Yesterday I was driving home from Boston and crossed the border from Mattapan to Milton. In a matter of a few feet the neighborhood went from urban concrete ghetto to suburban trees, space and expensive homes. Life is and never will be fair but how you play your hand matters as much to more than the cards you are dealt.

Mere feet can make a huge difference but the deck of cards you’re born in to is loaded with many things good and bad. You have to learn to play life well and often a modest start is one of the ingredients that offer the best lessons. The fact that you are paying attention, setting goals, and working toward them will set you up for success. Remember the fable of the tortoise and the hare. Your friends may have a head start on you but time, patience, and persistence make a difference.

Play the game well and take advantage of every scholarship, grant and social service open to you. I suggest that you visit the grant library in Boston; you would be amazed at what you might be eligible for.

Dr. Brilliant Cliché

To read more, visit and join http://Drbrilliantcliche.wordpress.com/

Granny says: Life is more fair than you realize, my dear Justine. You are simply making the error of comparing yourself to people with lots of money and possessions. If you compared yourself to a starving teen in Darfur who is lying in the mud with flies buzzing around him and the best he has to look forward to is maybe getting water at some point, you would see yourself as one of the privileged few.

Another error you are making is in assuming that the rich kids in your school are better prepared for the future than you are. Oh, please. They are prepared to have mommy and daddy buy their way through life. This doesn't really qualify them for much besides whining when they don't get their own way.

Just keep working and doing your best. You will end up exactly where you want if you set your goals and you are smart and hard working. Ten years from now, your rich friends could be drinking in the closet at Dad's car dealership. And you could be feeling sorry for them at the next class reunion.